Help Sarah(Dandelion) keep living
Donation protected
Dear Community,
I'm reaching out with a heavy heart to ask for your support for my partner, Sarah (Dandelion), who is enduring an incredibly challenging time. Sarah is currently battling multiple serious and debilitating illnesses, including Babesia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Bartonella, Mastocytosis, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, and has just been diagnosed with endometriosis. In addition to these physical conditions, she experiences dysautonomia, which causes frequent pre-syncope, weakness, shortness of breath, severe gastrointestinal issues, and musculoskeletal pain. There are many days when the pain and weakness are so severe that she cannot walk without assistance. She also suffers from insomnia, chronic suicidal ideations, severe depression, and episodes of psychosis. Her neurological symptoms often leave her in states of confusion, with regular outbursts of rage and extreme distress.
Despite these overwhelming challenges, Sarah had been pushing herself to continue working as a diesel mechanic—a physically demanding job that her body simply can no longer endure. This constant effort is taking a profound toll on her health, leading to further destabilization and debilitation. She often has to endure excruciating pain just to get through the day because she has no choice but to work to afford her medications, supplements, therapies, and basic living expenses. Her job provides BCBS PPO which is the most coverage you can get when navigating Late-stage Lyme, and that has been an incentive to stick it out.
Sarah is at a point where continuing this work is no longer sustainable. The physical demands are far beyond what her body can handle, and pushing herself further is leading to a rapid decline in her health. She urgently needs to step away from this job to protect what remains of her well-being, but doing so will leave her facing significant financial uncertainty. Even basic daily tasks like grocery shopping or preparing meals have become nearly impossible due to the pain and exhaustion she experiences. UPDATE: Sarah currently isn't working due to her disabilities, and needs as much financial help as possible to continue to pay for treatments and her daily life.
In addition to her health struggles, Sarah is also navigating profound grief. Over the past four years, she has suffered five major losses, leaving her deeply grief-stricken and without a strong support system. The isolation and overwhelming weight of both her physical and emotional pain are making it increasingly difficult for her to hold on. She feels incredibly alone, misunderstood, and burdened by the need to explain her invisible struggles to others.
We are reaching out for your help in any way you can provide—whether through a donation, sharing her GoFundMe, helping her find a remote job with good health insurance, or simply offering your support and understanding. Your compassion and generosity can make a significant difference in Sarah’s life, helping her find a safer, more stable path forward and reminding her that she is not alone in this struggle.
Sarah has always been someone who gives everything she has to help others. Now, she needs us to rally around her, to provide the love and support she has so often given to others. Please help us ensure she continues to be here with us, to heal, and to find some peace.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any support you can offer during this incredibly difficult time.
With gratitude,
Bryan (Socki)
Under Our Skin, A documentary about why its so difficult to get a lyme literate doctor and have coverage:
Articles about Bartonella:
About babesia
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from Red Wolf and B
Our dear friend Dandelion needs our help in their ongoing fight with Lyme disease. They have been overwhelmed with debilitating symptoms and struggling to afford the treatment they so badly need. The symptoms of the disease have completely impacted their life.
Those of us who have been in contact with D over the past few years have witnessed first hand the seriousness of their situation and the steady deterioration of their physical health. Because of the sickness they are struggling to maintain employment and are unsure if they will be continue to work at their current profession. D is a person who was once so involved in mutual aid, community building, prison support; dedicated to helping and sharing knowledge though their work with their apothecary, community gardens, establishing an info shop in southern Illinois, and so many other projects now has withdrawn almost completely from these passions due to the impacts of Lyme disease.
To those who have had the pleasure of crossing paths with D can speak to their selfless dedication to others and the boundless energy and effort they committed to movement spaces. You could constantly find D in the middle of a project, at the front lines or helping others through difficult situations.
Dandelion has never asked or expected anything in return for their constant giving and generosity. In my own life they have shown up time and time again to offer support, and I know that I am not alone in this experience. Dandelion has been there for so many of us and made a difference in so many of our lives and we have the opportunity to show up for them when they need it. Navigating treatment for chronic symptoms of late stage Lyme disease is expensive, time consuming and almost never covered by insurance.
Furthermore the symptoms of pain and fatigue make it difficult to continue working so affording treatment is almost impossible. We have the opportunity to show up for someone who has consistently shown up for the people around them. Let’s show Dandelion the same support that she has shown those around them. For me personally, this is an opportunity for reciprocity and a chance to make this aid mutual. Let’s help D in their fight against Lyme.
Organizer
Bryan Wysocki
Organizer
Milwaukee, WI